pearsons



Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

G. T. PEARSONS. FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED 0CT. I8, 1915.

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G. T. PEARSONS. FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I8. 1915.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lllllllIlIIIlL 4 SHEETSSHEET 3- Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

G. T. PEARSONS.

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HRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. ms.

Patented N OIV. 18, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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Z vwen toz 13f '4 attozmey GEORGE T. rnnasons, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-EXTING-UISHING SYSTEM.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 18, 1919.

Application filed October 18, 1915. Serial No. 56,403.

To all whom it may concern: 7 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PEARSONS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extin guishing Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire extinguishing systems in which piping extending through a building is provided with apertures to which fusible plugs or closures are connected, these fusible plugs fusing at a n'edetermined temperature by reason of the heat generated when a fire occursand a fire extinguishing liquid is discharged therethrough.

It is the object of the invention to provide a sprinkler system of a unitary structure in which a chemical fire extinguishing liquid is discharged through the fusible plug openings from a distributing tank, and to provide a tank fora further supply of a fire extinguishing medium which is forced from said tank to the distributing tank by a chemical gas pressure which is caused to be created or generated by a variation in the pressure in the piping and the fall of the liquid in the distributing tank below a predetermined level.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification Figure l is a sectional side elevation of a sprinkler system illustrating in diagrammatic manner an embodiment of my invention in a complete sprinkler system. r

Fig. '2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a supply tank and modified construction of the means in which the gas is created or generated.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation. partly in section, showing the supply tank also adapted as the means in which the ga's'is generated, and showing a modified connection of said tank with the distributing tank. V

Fig. l is a sectional side elevation of a receptacle for one of the gas generatingmaterials; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional side elevations of complete sprinkler systems illustrating modified embodiments of my invention.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the difierent views of the drawings.

- The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of a tank A, which is herein termed as. the distributing tank, for a fire extinguishing liquid, such as carbon tetrachlorid, the said tank having an outlet 7 at or adjacent the bottom to which the piping 8 is connected extending through the building and to outlets of which automatic sprinklers (not shown) are connected. This tank has a covered opening 9 for the purpose of filling and cleaning the tank.

A second tank B, which is herein termed the supply tank, is connected to the distributing tank by a pipe 10, this pipe leading from a point adjacent the bottom of the tank B to adjacent the top of tank A, as shown. This tank also has a covered opening 1'1 for the purpose of cleaning and otherwise, and may contain carbon tetrachlorid or be connected to a source of water supply, such as a water main 12. lVhen connected to a source of water supply the pipe 12 has a valve openin into the tank and closing outwardly therefrom for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The tank B in the construction shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to contain a fire extinguishing liquid, Such as carbon tetrachlorid, but it is to be understood that other suitable liquid or water may be contained in said tank. As stated the tank A is the distributing source and is to be located at some elevation, such as on the roof or in the upper story of a building, while the tank 13 which will be of greater capacity will be located in the basement or cellar. The liquid from the tank B is forced therefrom into the tank A under gas pressure, such as a chemically generated gas, the generation of which. gas

is automatically set in operation when the liquid in the tank A falls below a predetermined level and thereby causes a variation in the pressure in the pipe 10. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 this gas generating apparatus comprises a chamber or tank 12, suitably supported and connected to the tank B, said tank 12 being open at the top and closed by a removable cover. 13. This tank is adapted to contain a suitable gas generating chemical, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. A receptacle 14 is suspended in said tank and is adapted to contain another chemical, such as bicarbonate of soda. The bOtiZ-O1l1l5 of this 'recep tacle is movably supported and serves to normally separate the chemical in the receptacle from the chemical in the tank 12. The bottom is held in position toclose the receptacle by a rod '16 connecte d theretoat the upper end, the said rod extending into the tankrir Where "it is connected'to a'pivoted lever 17 carryingafioat-lS., The rod is slidably mounted in a tubular member 19 extending into 4 the tank A and up through the tank 12 and into the receptacle 1-1. To pr vent the discharge of gas generated in thetank 12 through the tube 19 into the tank A,thebottom'15 has a. tubular portion 20 to telescope with the tube 19' and closed at theup'per end to which the rod is connected through the instrumentality' of valve 20- adapted to be'seated in the upper end of the tube 19. In normal position when the tank A is substantially full the, parts will be in the position shown in fulllines. hen a, plug is fusedand as the liquid empties from the tank and reaches a level so that the float assumes substantially the position shown in dotted linesthe bottom 15 of the receptacle 11 will move away from the receptacle permitting the chemical in said receptacle to mix with the chemical in the'tank '12 and-generategas, access of such gas to the tank A being shut off by the valve 20- and connecteddirectly to the tank B t lac th liquid therein under compression and force the liquid from the supply tank to replenish the-supply in the distributing tank. The tank B is provided With a safety valve, shoivn in a general Way by 21, to automatically relieve the tank of any excess gas pressures.

To prevent any of'the gas generatinjg chemicals being ejected with the gas 'into the tank B, W' ich may be deleterious in certain'fi'res, I interpose betWeen'the tank B and generator a chamber 22 containinga suitable g'as filtering material, such so dium carbonate through which the gas passes the said chamber being shownasinclosing the generator and connected thereto by a port 28 adjacent the top thereof and the outlet ofthe filter chamber also being adj acent the top so that should the gas passing from the generator to said chamber contain any moisture said moisture as the gas passes through'the chamber will condense and remain therein,

As stated tank is to be locatedon the roof or in the upper story of a? building and the fire extinguishing liquid is of such a nature that it Will be practically non-freezing and the liquid in the tank B may be some kind of aliquid Which will freezeat a higher temperature than the liquid in tank of a building. "The said generator is therefore utilized; as a primary generator to set another gas generator of greater capacity in operatlon. As shown 111 Fig- 1 this genera-tor conslsts of a tank 241- for alchemical,

such as'hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, connected by a pipe 25 extending up and from a point adjacent the bottom thereof and leading to the top of a tank'26 containing another chemical, such as bicarbonate of soda,' the said tank 26'being connected to the supply tank B, in the present instance through a chamber 27 containing a suitable gas fi'lterin'g material, the same as in chamber 22, through which the gas passesuvhich chamber-is connected to the tank 26 by a pipe 28'leading from adjacent the top of the tank 'to the bottom'bf chamber 27, an'd the latter chamber is connected adjacent the top by apipe 28 to' tank B. The tank 24 is connected to the generator 12 by a pip-e 29 and the generated gas may pass directly therethroughand serve to force the acid from tank 24 into the tank 26 Where it mixes With the chei'nical therein and generates gas Which passes through the chamber 27 to the tank B creating a pressure in the latter and forcing the liquid therefrom into tank A. Should the initial gas pressure generated in chamber 26 not be suliicient to force the liquid from tank B, such gas'pressure will pass through a pipe '30 leading from said tank 26 to'the acid tank 2et, said pipe ha "ing a valve closing inwardly into the chamber 26 and opening outwardly therefrom. The pipe 25 is also" provided with a valve clos ing outward from said tank 26 and'opening inward thereof. The pipe 29 also has a valve opening into tank'2tand closing out- Ward to prevent any of'the gas passing from the I chamber-26 to tank 24 passing up through said pipe. The gas pressure passing from-chamber 26 to the acid tank- 24 Will serveto' facilitate the exp elling of the acidinto the chan'ibe-r 26' with the quicker production of gas and the consequent increased gas pressurein the tank Bto force the liquid therefrom.

To prevent the contents in the generator 12 fro'mrreezin it"may be inclo'sed in a. tank C containing a non-freezing liquid or a liquid that will only freeze at a Very low temperature and which may consist of a. fire ektin'giiishiiig liquid. such as carbontetrachlorid, the generator being connected theretoadja'cent 'the top and the pipe 29 connected atthe top and extending to adjacent the "b'o'ttoin thereof as vshown. In such construction this liquid can be utilized to expel the acid from the tank 2 Should the firebe extinguished before the-contents of tank A have been exhausted and to prevent the generation of gas in the generator 12 the pipe 8 may be provided with a shut oii valve. Should the contents of tank A have been exhausted agas generated in the generator 12 to prevent said gasfrom acting to cause the liquid from the. supply tank'to be forcedinto the distributing tank the pipe 29 is provided with a valve 31, and such gas as is generated, or the liquid from the tank C, will be expelled directly into the tank A through the branch pipe 32. It will be obvious that gas pressure will enter the tank A through pipe 32 and will operate to also place the, liquid in said tank under pres sure and forcily discharge the contents "of said tank.

If desired the generator consisting of the acid tank 24 and chamber 26 may be of a unitary structure as shown in Fig. 2.

In this structure only the tank or chamber 26 for the bicarbonate of soda is utilized,

' the other gas generating material being carried in a receptacle or container 33 within said tank pivotally supported, as at 34:. In such construction bicarbonate of soda in pulverized or granular form, or bicarbonate of soda in solution, may be used. The acid in the receptacle is maintained free from the chemical in the tank by another chemical having no affinity for the acid or soda, carbon tetrachlorid havingbeen found to answer this purpose. This receptacle is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the acid being of greater specific gravity than the carbon tetrachlorid the latter will float on the acid, as shown at 35 in Fig. 5. The receptacle is a closed structure of suitable form having a filler opening 36 and is filled with substantially equal quantities of the two chemicals. The receptacle is at all times in connection with the tank the tetrachlorid separatingand sealing the gas generating material in the receptacle from that in the tank. For this purpose it is provided with a tube or tubes 37 fixed in the receptacle the opening in the outer end being restricted. 'Should the tank be filled with a solution of soda and water, any of said solution having access to the receptacle would float on the tetrachlorid since it is of less specific gravity, and as the tetrachlorid is of greater specific gravity. In operation the receptacle is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a pivoted latch 38, andv the pivotal support for the receptacle is at the bottom and at one side the transverse center thereof, whereby as the latch is released the receptacle will tip and assume substantially the position shown in dotted lines. In this position the carbon tetrachlorid being lighter will rise and the acid descend, and as the acid is of greater specific gravity than the soda andwater in the tank it will drip into the latter mixing therewith and generating gas, said gas passing from the tank 26 through the pipe 28 to the chamber 27 and through pipe 28 to the supply tank for the purpose specified. The receptacle also has a tube 42 extending thereintoand a portion of the gas generated in the tank 26 will pass up through said tube andact to expel the liquid contents of the receptacle. The latch 38 is thrown out of operative connection with the receptacle 33 by a slidably supported plunger 39. This plunger has a cap to close the outlet of pipe 29 and is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring 40, but as gas is generated in the chamber 12 such gas, or the liquid from the tank 0, passing through the pipe 29 will force said plunger downward against the tension of the spring IO tripping latch 38 and thereby releasing the receptacle and permitting it to tip. In this construction the supply tank is filled with carbon tetrachlorid to be used as the fire extinguishing medium.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the supply tank B itself is utilized as a generator. and in this case it is filled with a soda and water solution to constitute the fire extinguishing liquid. The tank is provided with the acid receptacle 33 and actuated in substantially the same manner as shown in Fig. 2, the pipe 29 being directly connected to the tank 13. This pipe 29 is also utilized for the purpose of ejecting the liquid from the supply to the distributing tank. For this purpose the portion of the pipe 29 connected to the supply tank is enlarged as shown at 29 and has a branch pipe 43 extending to adjacent the bottom of the supply tank,v this pipe having a valve 44! opening outward from the tank and closing inward.

In Fig. 4: I have showna construction similar to that shown in Fig. 3 in which the gas is directly generated in the supply tank. However. in this construction the primary generator 12 shown in Fig. 1 and used in connection with the constructions shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3 is eliminated, and the actuation of the receptacle 33 is controlledby the liquid level in the tank A through a float i lin said tank. This float is supported by a rod 45 slidably mounted in a tube 46 ex tending from the supply tank up into the distributing tank. To trip the latch 33 to release the receptacle 33 a weight 47 is connected to the rod 45. As the float-4st is low.- ered in the tank A as the liquid empties therefrom the weight will be lowered therewith until it engages with the latch 38 and moves it out of operative connection with the receptacle. A valve 49 is connected to the float 4:4: to cooperate, with the upper end of thetube lfi' as a valve seatto shut off access of the liquidor gas' from the tank B to tank A'through pipe ati.

In Fig; 6'1haveshown aconstruction of what might be termed a high pressure system where'the water is to be lifted a considerable height. In this construction the primary generator '12- as utilized in 1 Fig. 1 is eliminated and a generat'or substantially similar to' 'thatshown-at 26 (Fig 2) isempleyed lw'itli' theexception that the receptacle-33 is caused to tip by the means shown in Fig- 4 in which the latch 38 for holding the receptacle in normal positionis tripped by a weight 50 connected 'to a fioat51 in the distributing chamber A actuated by the liquid level in" said" tank. To provide a high pressure in the saidtank B' there isQprov-ided an auxiliary acid tank 52 connected :to the generator'26'by a pipe 53 havinga valveopening: outward from the tank 26. The gas passes from the tank 52 through a pipe 5i havinga valve opening outward front said tank. The acid tank 52'is also connected to the tank B by pipe '55 extending from the bottom of the acid tank to the top of tank B andhaving avalve'thereiii opening outward from the acidtan'k. "As the gas pressures increase in the acid tank acid from the tank 52 will be forced from the tan'kthrough the pipe 55, this acid mixing with the soda and 'WH/C'Gl in the tank B, which said tank contains in this structure, will generate and increasethe gas pressure in said tank B. The tank B is adapted to be'substantially filled with liquid at all times and for this purpose it is connected with a water main 56 having a valve 57 controlled by the liquid level" in the tankB through afioat' 58 connected to such valve. To provide a supply of bicarbonate of soda said tank B has a compartment 59 in which soda is located, the water main-56 being in line with said compartmentand the water entering from said main will tend'to wash the soda from said compartment. To still further assure a substantial supply of the bicarbonate of soda, the'opening of the pipe 10 leading fromthe supply to the distributing tank is located in a pocket 60 in the tank in which there is a'further supply of bicarbonate of soda.

' Having thus described my invention I claim:

1; In a" fire extinguisher system, the com bin'ation of a tank for fire extinguishing liquid and having an outlet; piping arranged with automatic sprinklers connected to said outlet; a second tank for fire extinguishing liquid connected to 'tthe first tank; apparatus for chemically generating gas connected to the-second tank to place the liquid'the'rein under compression; and prin'iaiy'chemical gas generating means set in-ope 'ation by the fall of the liquid level in-the first tank tocause the operation of the: chemical gas-generating apparatus to place the liquid in the'second tank under compression.

2. In fire extinguishing systems,- the combination with a pipe line having outlets with fusible closures, of means to con tain of fire extinguishing liquid communicatingwithsaid pipe line; ainain chemical gas generating apparatus to supply thefire extinguishing liquid to the pipe line under pressure; and'a primary gas generating'apparatus adapted to-be set in operation by the-dischargeof liquid from the: pipe line to caus the operation of the main gas'gencrating apparatus for the purpose specified.

' 8. In a-fire extinguishing system, the combination of a reservoir for fire extinguishing liquid releasable therefrom by means fusible at a predeterminedtemperature; asec- 0nd reservoir'for fire extinguishing liquid connected to the first reservoir; apparatus for chemically generating gas to expel the liquid from the second reservoir; and a primary apparatus for chemically generating gas having means arranged to set said apparatus in operation by the dis charge of the liquid from the first tank and operable to cause the operation of .the main gasgenerating apparatus for the-purpose specified.

a. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination with a'pipe line arranged with automatic sprinklers, of a fire extinguishing medium connected to said pipe line; a main chemical -gasgenerating apparatus to place the fire extinguishing;medium under compression;.and -a= primarycheinical gas generating apparatus to beset :in operation by the flow of the fire'ext-inguishin-g medium from the pipeline and operable to cause the operation of themanrgas generating apparatus .for the purpose specified.

5. The combination in' a fire extinguishing system of supply pipe, automatic sprinklers connected thereto, apparatus for chemically generating gas to expel a fire extlnguishingfluld, and means controlled by fiu1d in the supply pipe for delivering fluid un der pressure to cause operation of said apparatus.

6. The combination in a fire extinguishing system, of a supply pipe having sprinklers; a main generator connectedtosupply fire extingz uishing-fluidto said pipe, and an auxiliary gas generator connected to be set in operation bya variation in the pressure in said supply pipe'tor causing operation of said first gas generator.

7. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination with apipe'line arranged with automatic sprinklers,'-of a reservoir for fire extinguishing liquid connected to. thepipe line; a second reservoir for fire extinguishing liquid connected to the pipe line; apparatus for chemically generating gas to eX- pel the liquid from the second reservoir; a 5 primary gas generator caused to be set in 7 operation by means controlled by the discharge of the liquid from the pipe line; a liquid carrying chamber having an inlet from the primary gas generator; and a connection between said chamber and the first reservoir and with the first gas generating apparatus to cause the operation of said latter apparatus by the discharge of the liquid from said chamber.

GEO. T. PEARSONS. 

